http://www.duncanbanner.com en-us Copyright CNHI All Rights Reserved. 5 Sun, 11 May 2008 13:20:00 +0000 http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_132132218.html http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_132132218.html Thanks to the efforts of some Stephens County residents, victims of fatal accidents in the area covered by Troop G of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol can be treated with greater dignity at the scene of the crash. Sun, 11 May 2008 12:58:00 +0000 http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_132130016.html http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_132130016.html DOYLE — After adopting six children, ages 6 years to 15, Sissy Keck is grateful for the opportunity to love and help more children grow up.“It’s wonderful to see your kids reach their goals in life,” Keck said. “God has blessed us so much.” Sun, 11 May 2008 12:45:00 +0000 http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_132124838.html http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_132124838.html COMANCHE — You’d be hard-pressed to find someone at Comanche Elementary School, or Comanche Public Schools for that matter, that doesn’t have a compliment for Lynn Tilley. Fri, 09 May 2008 13:09:00 +0000 http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_130131102.html http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_130131102.html Once again, Duncan Lake will have a concessionaire.During Tuesday’s Duncan Lakes Commission meeting, members heard from and approved from recommendation one applicant for the lake’s concession. The applicant, Ray Springer, brought with him the idea to carry groceries, along with the required bait and tackle.“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Springer said. “I never had the opportunity. This is an opportunity.”He said he wanted to make the concession a family venture. As a concessionaire, Springer will get paid $200 per month and 10 percent of the permit sales.The item will be put on the agenda for the next Duncan Utilities Authority meeting. The meeting will be at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday in the Duncan Council Chambers. Fri, 09 May 2008 13:00:00 +0000 http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_130130613.html http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_130130613.html Tommy Cosgrove has a lot of memories at Marlow High School.And many of these memories relate to the people Cosgrove has encountered, whether students, teachers or those in the community.Like 14 years ago, when Chris Jones, a graduating senior, presented a piece of pottery he made to Cosgrove. That gift was accompanied with a note, which talked about the steps they were taking in their lives — graduation for Jones and moving into the principal’s office for Cosgrove, who at that time was a history teacher. Fri, 09 May 2008 10:43:00 +0000 http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_130104118.html http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_130104118.html A Duncan man was found dead this morning in the street near the intersection of Second and Maple. Thu, 08 May 2008 12:56:00 +0000 http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_129125631.html http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_129125631.html Gayle Johnson and Jim Bernard remained in the top two spots on the Waurika city commission and Waurika Public Works Authority, when several city government boards held internal elections Monday.In regular meetings at City Hall, Johnson, who ran unopposed for re-election to Position No. 2 on the City Commission in February, was unanimously re-elected mayor and chair of the WPWA.Bernard, a first-term commissioner, was unanimously reelected to the vice mayor position he’s occupied since Commissioner Leroy Reiger retired at the end of July. Thu, 08 May 2008 12:52:00 +0000 http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_129125345.html http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_129125345.html As spring weather turns into summer heat, electric companies are preparing for the increase in their product’s demand. For Duncan Power, though, the increased load means a tripped transformer will have to be repaired to provide for its customers adequately. The transformer, damaged by a leaking seal, has been off-line since March when it caused about 2,800 Duncan Power customers to lose power briefly. David Yeager, electric utility director, said replacing the 32-year-old unit with a new one would be costly, so the city opted to put in an older unit from another station. Thu, 08 May 2008 12:51:00 +0000 http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_129125235.html http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_129125235.html It may have taken several nights to build bridges, but it took only a bucket of sand to find the breaking points of those bridges.Fourteen Duncan Middle School students participated in a bridge-building contest, which was made possible because of a grant from the Duncan Public Schools Foundation. To compete, students had to build a miniature bridge from toothpicks and glue.To test the strength of each bridge, students attached a bucket to their bridges. Once the bucket was in place, sand was added to give more weight.DMS teacher Cindy Parks said, “I think it went exceptionally well. I didn’t think toothpicks and glue would hold so well.”The top two bridges were built by Kevin Roddy and Chris Totty. To figure out which bridge had the best efficiency, which is the total weight applied to the bridge to the point of breaking divided by the bridge’s mass. Measuring the efficiency was one of the main goals of the program.Parks said the competition was a way for students to learn about geometric features, the history of bridge building and construction. The project required several skills. Thu, 08 May 2008 12:48:00 +0000 http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_129125000.html http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_129125000.html 8:00 a.m. Get in the car.8:05 a.m. Wash the car.8:10 a.m. Drive.When Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) Trooper Thomas Winton works the day shift, he usually starts by making sure his vehicle is spic and span.“It adds a degree of professional appearance that OHP expects us to keep,” Winton said.For Winton, like any other OHP trooper, his office is literally inside his vehicle because he travels so much.“We can travel wherever we want to in Oklahoma,” he said. “It adds an element of freedom because I don’t have an area that I can’t leave. When I reach the city limits, I don’t have to turn back. It’s nice.” Wed, 07 May 2008 12:02:00 +0000 http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_128120433.html http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_128120433.html A timeline has been set, but many of the improvements to Abe Raizen Park will be contingent on the grading process.During Tuesday’s Parks and Recreation Board special meeting, members discussed setting dates for several projects as a “best case scenario.” Community Development Director Dana Schoening used a large notepad to go over a few points and days with board members.June 30 was marked as a possible end date for the grading process. Completion of the irrigation project was set for July 25. And, Aug. 15 has been slated for the sprigging process to end. Wed, 07 May 2008 11:51:00 +0000 http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_128115300.html http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_128115300.html As graduations approach, many seniors are gearing up for post-high school plans. For many students, though, leaving high school won’t mean they’ll stop being involved in their activities. They’ll just be taking them to the next level. Duncan High School band seniors are no exception. Cody Conklin and Lorenzo Diaz, two of DHS’ graduating band students, will continue on to college, pursing music as a degree. For them, the chance to play on means an opportunity to expand and grow as musicians as they encounter new and more challenging material. “The love for it, the love for the instrument, keeps you going,” Conklin said. Diaz, who said growing up around music has influenced him to play, noted that it doesn’t just fill time, it fills in a part of who he is. “I just like waking up in the morning knowing you’re going to play,” he said. Tue, 06 May 2008 10:48:00 +0000 http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_127104928.html http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_127104928.html In a special meeting Monday night, Duncan City Council selected a new vice mayor and swore in two returning members.Councilman Tommy Edwards, going into his third year as a councilman, was elected vice mayor. “I think it’s quite an honor,” Edwards said. “I really didn’t know about it until tonight. I was surprised.” Pleased with the current council membership, Edwards noted that while the group may not always see eye to eye, each has the best interest of Duncan and its citizens at heart. Mon, 05 May 2008 12:48:00 +0000 http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_126125147.html http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_126125147.html About 90 horse lovers rode for hours on the miles of trails near Duncan Lake on April 26.“It’s a good place to have fun,” said Buster Foster, who is the president of the Duncan Lake Horse Club. Mon, 05 May 2008 12:43:00 +0000 http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_126124613.html http://www.duncanbanner.com/local/local_story_126124613.html After 37 years of service in the post office industry, Donnie Bain is retiring.Friday, he addressed his co-workers and shared some of his feelings.